St. Ignatius of Loyola was born in 1491 in the ancestral castle at Loyola to a noble family, which was loyal to the Spanish crown. He was raised to be a courtier. In 1521 when Ignatius was trying to defend the fortress town of Pamplona, he was very badly wounded in his leg. While he recuperated, he read the books on the life of Christ and the Lives of the Saints. So much he was impacted that he laid aside the “sword of war” and took the “sword of Christ.” In 1537, he was ordained in Venice. He founded the Society of Jesus in 1540 with a circle of seven companions with whom he dedicated himself to the greater glory of God and the good of humanity. Together, they placed themselves at the service of the Pope, who could send them wherever there was a need. He contributed greatly to the Catholic revival of the sixteenth century and the renewal of the Church’s missionary activity. He died in Rome in 1556, and was canonized by Gregory XV in 1622.

Ignatian spirituality is a tool that guides us to realize a meaningful journey of life. It is a set of values, attitudes and insights and not hard and fast rules on how to pray. The central theme is that God is present everywhere – in all moments of life, fields of work, in delight, in grief, relationships, culture, intellect and beauteous creation. What is more important is discerning His presence in the routine of ordinary life and adding deeper value to our experiences. And the value addition is gained when we become “men and women for others.”

The Society of Jesus (in Latin: SocietasIesu) is a Christian male religious congregation of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits. It is an anglicized version of Latin Jesuita which is the combination of the two Latin words Jesu and Ita that means “Yes Jesus.” Their names end with a title: SJ, which abbreviates ‘Society of Jesus.” The Portuguese, who had political control over certain regions in the Indian sub-continent from 16th Century, supported the Catholic Church and the Jesuit Mission in many respects. Due to Political and ideological conflicts in Europe, on 21st July 1773, the Society of Jesus was suppressed by Pope Clement XVI. But after 41 years, Pope Pius VII restored the Society of Jesus in 1814 and the Jesuit order was re-established throughout the world. Today, there are more than 16,000 Jesuits in 111 countries in 6 continents of whom around 400 are working at schools and colleges of Ranchi Province. The Jesuits are well-known for their involvement in theology, education, missionary work and publishing with fervent focus on social justice and human rights.

Ranchi Jesuit Mission The Ranchi Jesuit mission was established in the year 1952. Until then it was part of Calcutta Jesuit Province. Ranchi Mission was created as a separate unit from Calcutta Mission in 1935, but was still governed by the latter. Ranchi Mission raised to the status of a full-fledged independent Province in 1956 with J.B. Moyerseon as its first Provincial. Since then so many years have passed and the present strength of the Province is 362. Ranchi Jesuit Society was first registered in 1959 and reregistered in Jharkhand state in 2006 under Societies registration act 21. 1860.

"One mission, many ministries”, is the popular maxim about the Jesuits’ mission throughout the world. Ignatius instructed the early Jesuits to go out and “find God in all things.” Nothing binds their endeavor and passion. They are propelled to commit themselves in anything “For the Greater Glory of God” (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam) laying its Principle and foundation in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius that is the transformation of human persons as to bring about the kingdom of God. Ranchi Jesuit Society is engaged in multiple ministries—education, pastoral, social justice, human and tribal rights, spirituality, etc.

In the last few decades Ranchi Province has undergone a transformation from a mission province to a missionary province and spread its wings in Africa, Cambodia, Egypt, Guyana and Israel. In the Indian sub-continent itself, Ranchi Province has expanded to Assam and the Andamans. The Province alsorenders its services in national and international Jesuitinstitutions. Read More (Ranchi Bulletin)

St. Xavier's College in Simdega is a Liberal arts college in India. The college is named after Francis Xavier, the 16th-century Spanish Jesuit saint.The college was established and founded in the year 2016 which being the realisation of the vision of Belgian Jesuits, Father Jan-Baptist Stockman and Father Constant Lievens Father Constant Lievens (11 April 1856 – 7 November 1893) was a Belgian (Flemish) Jesuit priest, missionary among the tribal peoples of Central India, particularly the Mundaris, Oraons. He is regarded as the apostle of the Chotanagpur (Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh states in central India). , who brought the Society of Jesus to Chota Nagpur Division of British India in 1869.The college is run by Ranchi Jesuits, with special consideration to Catholic students. It offers undergraduate courses in Humanities and Commerce. The college was established by the Jesuits of Ranchi province. The college was officially inaugurated on the feast of Nativity of Mary on 2016. The college is a vision of the Belgian Jesuits who have established several educational institutions in the area including the prestigious St. Mary School. St. Xavier's College is accredited and affiliated to Ranchi University. It is accredited by the University with the task of preparing students for degrees in Humanities and Commerce.The College is Roman Catholic and the Society of Jesus exercises responsibility over it through a Governing Body whose chairman is the Provincial of the Ranchi Province of the Society. St. Xavier's College is named after Francis Xavier, a Spanish Jesuit saint of the Sixteenth century who travelled to India. The College seeks to give an all-round formation, inculcating both human and spiritual values. It gives special consideration to Roman Catholics under the minority rights in Article 30, Constitution of India for whose education the college was founded. St. Xavier's College, Simdega is accredited and affiliated to Ranchi University. It is accredited by the University with the task of preparing students for degrees in Humanities and Commerce.